Options Warrington and Halton Summer 2023

Drive Ability North West celebrates 30 years supporting people to stay mobile and independent

Celebrations took place recently, as Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust marked 30 years of its Drive Ability North West service.

Over this time, this free NHS service, which is commissioned by charity Driving Mobility and the Department of Transport, has benefitted countless people across the North West.

Being able to use a car is invaluable, and for many it’s essential to their wellbeing – especially people with restricted mobility or a disability.

Drive Ability North West’s Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors support people with medical conditions, disabilities, and those affected by old age, to drive safely and maintain or regain their independence as drivers or passengers.

My wife contacted Drive Ability North West because we knew how important it was that I was still safe to drive.

The anniversary showcase was attended by staff and service users past and present, as well as healthcare and voluntary sector personnel, eager to discover how the service can help the people they care for.

Speaking at the occasion, Colin Scales, Chief Executive of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

“Drive Ability North West is a prime example of how we as a NHS Community Trust work successfully in partnership with organisations like Driving Mobility and Merseyside Police, to deliver specialist services into the heart of our local communities.

“For the past 30 years this service has helped to improve the safety, independence and quality of life of so many people.”

It turned out to be a double celebration on the day, as Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist Deborah Murgatroyd celebrated her own 30 years of working for Drive Ability North West.

Praising the work of Deborah and her NHS colleagues, Ken Bullas, who was supported by the service to return to driving following a stroke, said:

“My wife contacted Drive Ability North West because we knew how important it was that I was still safe to drive.

“The staff really listened to our worries and after I’d been assessed, I was so happy when I was told I could still drive. I can’t walk very well, but having the car, it’s like a new chapter of life, it’s given me my independence.”

Jabeen Bowes, an Approved Driving Instructor at Drive Ability North West, added:

“It means a lot to have Ken here with us celebrating 30 years of the service.

“We go on a very important journey with our patients, and I really did with Ken. It’s so worthwhile when you can see the results of what you do and how you make a difference.”

For further information, please visit the Drive Ability North West website at bridgewater.nhs.uk/drive

Bridgewater

Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The team were so calming, so if Elly was nervous at first, she certainly wasn’t by the time she’d practiced driving.

How can Drive Ability North West help you stay independent?

Many people think it’s just health and social care professionals who can make referrals to Drive Ability North West, but you can actually refer yourself. You might do this for a number of reasons:

• If you have a physical disability or you’ve become less able following a stroke for example, you may want to find out how you might be able to drive using vehicle modifications

• You might want to check that you’re still able to drive safely following a recent diagnosis of a medical condition, such as dementia

• You may want reassurance as you get older, and your reactions have slowed a little

It’s understandable that this might seem daunting, but the Drive Ability North West team are experts in putting people and their families at ease. Marie Milton, whose daughter Elly visited the service following a stroke, explains:

“The team were so calming, so if Elly was nervous at first, she certainly wasn’t by the time she’d practiced driving.”

The service can also advise on other mobility options, such as mobility scooters and car seats and harnesses for children with disabilities or challenging behaviour. Its aim? To help people live a good and independent life – and that’s different for everybody, so whatever your need, any advice will be tailored to you.

Barry Clift, Senior Occupational Therapist at the service, describes this best, saying of the team:

“We’re all person focused. No one person is the same and we want to give people the best assessment and advice. Whatever we do, we want people to have the best experience.”

To make a referral to Drive Ability North West, you can use the simple online referral form at www.bridgewater.nhs.uk/drive, call 01942 483 713 or email BCHFT.DriveAbility@nhs.net today.

(L-R): Deborah Murgatroyd (Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist), Jabeen Bowes (Approved Driving Instructor), Ken Bullas and wife Gail Bullas

Helping patients go home from hospital

With increased demand for NHS services we are making it a priority at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals to help patients get better faster and safer.

Hospital stays are designed to provide specific and, usually, intense care. We all know that it’s much better for a patient’s physical and mental wellbeing to leave hospital as soon as they are medically ready to do so.

Patients who stay in hospital longer than is necessary may face associated risks, such as infections and the loss of independence and mobility. Staying in hospital for too long may even slow down recovery. Research shows that 35% of 70-year-old patients experience a decline in their physical condition during hospital admission. For those over 90, this increases to 65%. In patients over 80, ten days in hospital leads to ten years’ worth of lost muscle mass.

That’s why we are working to reduce prolonged hospital stays and help our patients continue their recovery at home. For those that can’t go straight home we will support them in their next steps.

When patients are ready to go home from hospital, family, friends and carers can really help patients leave hospital as soon as they are medically ready.

We want to encourage more patients in hospital to ask ‘When am I going home?’ This approach is designed to empower and encourage patients and their families and carers to feel confident in asking questions about their care and recovery beyond the hospital setting. Research shows that once patients have had the care they need in hospital, they will recover more quickly at home. At the end of the day nothing is better than your own bed.

We recognise it can sometimes be hard for patients to ask questions about where their care is up to, especially if they’re unsure about their illness or they can see staff are busy; but asking questions can help patients feel more in control of their recovery.

We are encouraging patients to ask these four questions so they understand everything they need to know about their care and recovery plan:

1. What is wrong with me?

2. What is going to happen next?

3. What can I do to help myself get better?

4. When am I likely to go home?

These questions should be able to be answered by members of staff and should be contained within the notes of each patient and easy to find.

When patients are ready to go home from hospital, family, friends and carers can really help patients leave hospital as soon as they are medically ready. They can:

• make arrangements to be available at the time of discharge

• make the home comfortable for the patient’s return

• arrange help around the home

• arrange transport and clothes to leave hospital in

• put the heating on if needed

• stock the patient’s home with basic food and any medicine they might need

• arrange any support the patient may need including emotional support, help with housework, assistance with getting essential items or personal support with washing, eating or getting dressed. Check what your council or local authority can offer by visiting www. gov.uk/find-local-council

Remember we won’t send patients home before they are medically well enough or plan anything without involving patients or their family or carers.

If you have any questions or don’t understand any details about leaving hospital, please speak to the staff on the ward when you are next visiting a loved one or friend in hospital.

Ways to support your local hospitals

At Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals we want all our patients to have the best possible experience of being in our care.

Our Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals’ Charity (WHH Charity) provides additional comforts, care and experiences for patients in our hospitals, their families and carers.

Thanks to the amazing support of donors and fundraisers our charity works to enhance the overall experience of our patients through funding equipment and complimentary services which go beyond what the NHS is able to provide.

Below are just some of the simple ways people can support our charity.

Supporting patients in hospital to beat the boredom

With your help, we can support patients to keep boredom at bay when staying in hospital. We have Amazon Wish Lists full of items which would be welcomed by patients at both Warrington and Halton Hospitals. Our Wish Lists couldn’t be simpler to use

– just browse through the items and make sure you select Make-A-Wish UK’s delivery address place your order and Amazon will deliver your kind gift directly to us. When using our Wish Lists, please remember to check that you only have items from our wish list in your basket.

Scan the QR codes to check out the Amazon Wish Lists we have created to support both adult and younger patients.

Every gift truly makes a difference.

Donate small, win big!

At WHH Charity have teamed up with Giant Cash Bonanza to give you a fun and easy way to donate that gives you the chance to win you a huge cheque –a win-win situation for everyone!

Tickets cost just £2 per play and at least £1.20 goes straight into our charity fund. You can purchase up to two entries per person. Each entry will be allocated a unique set of numbers, which are yours for as long as you play.

Sign up using the QR code right for your chance to win up to £1,000 each week (plus an annual jackpot of £10,000!) whilst contributing to a great cause.

With your help, we can support patients to keep boredom at bay when staying in hospital.

These are just some of the ways to give back to your local hospitals and there are many more including supporting ongoing fundraising campaigns, creating a personal tribute page to celebrate the life of a loved one or leaving a lasting legacy.

For more information on our charity and all the ways your support can make a difference please visit www. whhcharity.org.uk or contact our fundraising team by email at whh.charity@nhs.net or call on 01925 662666. You can also pop in and see the charity team in Warrington Hospital main entrance Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

NHS healthcarecontinuing

Where can NHS continuing healthcare be provided?

NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of settings outside hospital, such as in your own home or in a care home.

Am I eligible for NHS continuing healthcare?

NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a “continuing care package” if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that cannot be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

Find out more about the children and young people’s continuing care national framework on GOV.UK

Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition.

To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a multidisciplinary team). The team will look at all your care needs and relate them to:

• what help you need

• how complex your needs are

• how intense your needs can be

• how unpredictable they are, including any risks to your health if the right care is not provided at the right time

Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition. If your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change.

You should be fully involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account. Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate.

A decision about eligibility for a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare should usually be made within 28 days of an initial assessment or request for a full assessment.

If you are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you can be referred to your local council who can discuss with you whether you may be eligible for support from them.

If you still have some health needs then the NHS may pay for part of the package of support. This is sometimes known as a “joint package” of care.

Information and advice

The process involved in NHS continuing healthcare assessments can be complex. An organisation called Beacon gives free independent advice on NHS continuing healthcare.

Visit the Beacon website or call the free helpline on 0345 548 0300.

Some people with long-term complex health needs qualify for free social care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare.

For most people, there’s an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment.

NHS continuing healthcare assessments

Integrated care boards, known as ICBs (the NHS organisations that commission local health services), must assess you for NHS continuing healthcare if it seems that you may need it.

For most people, there’s an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment. However, if you need care urgently – for example, if you’re terminally ill – your assessment may be fast-tracked.

Initial assessment for NHS continuing healthcare

The initial checklist assessment can be completed by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or social worker. You should be told that you’re being assessed, and what the assessment involves.

Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you’ll either be told that you do not meet the criteria for a full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare and are therefore not eligible, or you’ll be referred for a full assessment of eligibility.

Being referred for a full assessment does not necessarily mean you’ll be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The purpose of the checklist is to enable anyone who might be eligible to have the opportunity for a full assessment.

The professional(s) completing the checklist should record in writing the reasons for their decision, and sign and date it. You should be given a copy of the completed checklist.

You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare checklist from GOV.UK

Full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare

Full assessments for NHS continuing healthcare are undertaken by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) made up of a minimum of 2 professionals from different healthcare professions. The MDT should usually include both health and social care professionals who are already involved in your care.

You should be informed who is co-ordinating the NHS continuing healthcare assessment.

If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package that meets your assessed needs.

The team’s assessment will consider your needs under the following headings:

• breathing

• nutrition (food and drink)

• continence

• skin (including wounds and ulcers)

• mobility

• communication

• psychological and emotional needs

• cognition (understanding)

• behaviour

• drug therapies and medicine

• altered states of consciousness

• other significant care needs

These needs are given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”.

If you have at least 1 priority need, or severe needs in at least 2 areas, you can usually expect to be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

You may also be eligible if you have a severe need in 1 area plus a number of other needs, or a number of high or moderate needs, depending on their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability.

In all cases, the overall need, and interactions between needs, will be taken into account, together with evidence from risk assessments, in deciding whether NHS continuing healthcare should be provided.

The assessment should take into account your views and the views of any carers you have. You should be given a copy of the decision documents, along with clear reasons for the decision.

You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool from GOV.UK

Fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare

If your health is deteriorating quickly and you’re nearing the end of your life, you should be considered for the NHS continuing healthcare fast-track pathway, so that an appropriate care and support package can be put in place as soon as possible – usually within 48 hours.

Care and support planning

If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package that meets your assessed needs. Depending on your situation, different options could be suitable, including support in your own home and the option of a personal health budget.

If it’s agreed that a care home is the best option for you, there could be more than 1 local care home that’s suitable.

Your ICB should work collaboratively with you and consider your views when agreeing your care and support package and the setting where it will be provided. However, they can also take other factors into account, such as the cost and value for money of different options.

If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you’re still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

NHS continuing healthcare reviews

If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your needs and support package will normally be reviewed within 3 months and thereafter at least annually. This review will consider whether your existing care and support package meets your assessed needs. If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you’re still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

Refunds for delays in NHS continuing healthcare funding

ICBs will normally make a decision about eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare within 28 days of getting a completed checklist or request for a full assessment, unless there are circumstances beyond its control.

If the ICB decides you’re eligible, but takes longer than 28 days to decide this and the delay is unjustifiable,

they should refund any care costs from the 29th day until the date of their decision.

If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare

If you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, but you’re assessed as requiring nursing care in a care home (in other words, a care home that’s registered to provide nursing care) you’ll be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

This means that the NHS will pay a contribution towards the cost of your registered nursing care. NHS-funded nursing care is available irrespective of who is funding the rest of the care home fees.

Find out more about NHS continuing healthcare from NHS England.

Frequently asked questions about NHS continuing healthcare

Q I have a local authority support package that works well. I’m now eligible for NHS continuing healthcare – will my support package change?

If you’re concerned about changes to your care package because of a move to NHS continuing healthcare, your ICB should talk to you about ways that it can give you as much choice and control as possible. This could include the use of a personal health budget, with 1 option being a “direct payment for healthcare”.

Q Can I refuse an assessment for NHS continuing healthcare? If I refuse, will I be able to get services from my local authority? Consent is not needed for completion of assessments (CHC Checklists, Decision Support Tools (inclusive of FNC by default) and Fast Track), or collation and sharing of information with:

• Care Teams

• Health and Social Care Staff

But consent is needed to share personal information collected for, and as part of, assessments (Checklist, Decision Support Tool (inclusive of FNC by default) and Fast Track) with third parties, such as family, friends or representatives, at the beginning of the process. There is a legal limit to the types of services that a Local Authority can provide. If you have any concerns about being assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, the ICB should explore your reasons for this, and try to address your concerns.

If someone lacks the mental capacity to consent to sharing of information with third parties (other than Care Teams or Health and Social Care Staff), the principles of the Mental Capacity Act will apply and a best interests decision may be needed.

Q

My relative is in a care home and has become eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The ICB says the fees charged by this care home are more than they would usually pay, and has proposed a move to a different care home. I think a move will have a negative effect on my relative. What can we do?

If there’s evidence that a move is likely to have a detrimental effect on your relative’s health or wellbeing, discuss this with the ICB. It will take your concerns into account when considering the most appropriate arrangements.

If the ICB decides to arrange an alternative placement, they should provide a reasonable choice of homes.

Q Is it possible to pay top-up fees for NHS continuing healthcare?

No, it is not possible to top up NHS continuing healthcare packages, like you can with local authority care packages.

The only way that NHS continuing healthcare packages can be topped up privately is if you pay for additional private services on top of the services you’re assessed as needing from the NHS. These private services should be provided by different staff and preferably in a different setting.

Personal budgets and direct payments

You’ll be given a personal budget to spend if your local council decide you’re eligible for help with any social care and support you need. You can request an assessment from the council to establish your needs.

The money in your personal budget can be paid to you, to help you make more decisions about how it’s spent. This is known as a direct payment. What is a personal budget?

Your personal budget is the amount of money your local council will pay towards any social care and support you need.

The amount of money in your personal budget is decided by your local council after a needs assessment to work out:

• what kind of care and support you need

• how much it will cost

• how much you’re able to afford yourself

Carers and personal budgets

If you’re a carer, you may be entitled to receive a personal budget after having a carer’s assessment to see what might help make your life easier.

A carer’s assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.

Choosing how to receive your personal budget

You can ask the council to either:

• manage your personal budget for you

• pay the money to another organisation – such as a care provider

• pay the money directly to you or someone you choose – this is known as a direct payment

You can also choose a combination of these options. For example, the council could arrange some of your care but send you the rest of the money. This is often called a mixed package or “mix and match”.

If the council manages your money

The money in your personal budget will be spent for you by the council. They will arrange all your care and support based on your agreed care plan. They still need to check you’re happy with the care they’re arranging for you.

If your money is paid to another organisation

The organisation you choose, such as your care provider, will speak to the council and arrange the payments.

Sometimes other organisations charge you extra money to arrange payments from the council.

The benefits of direct payments

Direct payments give you more flexibility over how your care and support is arranged and provided. For example, you could choose to hire care workers or personal assistants who:

• are always the same people and available when you need them

• speak the same language as you

• have experience working with your care needs

• are a specific person that has been recommended to you

• can help you get to shops or social events

If you’re a carer, you may be entitled to receive a personal budget after having a carer’s assessment to see what might help make your life easier.

You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member.

There are many ways you could choose to use the money. It’s your choice as long as you’re spending your personal budget on things that meet your agreed care plan.

Most councils will ask for evidence of how you’ve spent your money every 3 months.

When to consider other options

You may decide direct payments are not helpful if:

• you’re worried about managing money or the people you employ

• you spend a lot of time in hospital

• you would rather the council arranged your care

If you’re not confident about keeping records or managing the people who care for you, your local council should be able to provide support.

You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member. You’ll need to set up a trust for payments that are managed by someone else.

The Money Advice Service has information about setting up a trust.

How to apply for direct payments

You should be offered direct payments as an option after your needs assessment.

You can also ask your local council’s social services department about direct payments.

How direct payments work

If you choose direct payments, the council will send you the money in your personal budget by either:

• paying it directly into a bank, Post Office, building society or National Savings and Investments account

• sending you a pre-paid card

You can then choose how you spend the money on your own care and support, as long as it matches the care plan you’ve agreed with the council.

Signing a direct payment agreement

The council might ask you to sign a document called a direct payment agreement. This says:

• how the council want you to record your spending –for example, keeping receipts

& Independent Living choice for Mobility Your Number One

There are many ways you could choose to use the money. It’s your choice as long as you’re spending your personal budget on things that meet your

Most councils will ask for evidence of how you’ve

You may decide direct payments are not helpful if:

• you’re worried about managing money or the

having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member.

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• you would rather the council arranged your care

If you’re not confident about keeping records or managing the people who care for you, your local council should be able to provide support.

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The Money Advice Service has information about setting up a trust.

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You could also consider having someone else manage your direct payments, for example a friend or family member. You’ll need to set up a trust for payments that are managed by someone else.

How to apply for direct payments

You should be offered direct payments as an option after your needs assessment.

You can also ask your local council’s social services

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You can then choose how you spend the money on your own care and support, as long as it matches the care plan you’ve agreed with the council.

Signing a direct payment agreement

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The council might ask you to sign a document called a direct payment agreement. This says:

Every

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• your responsibilities as an employer - if you’re paying for a care worker

If you spend direct payments on something that isn’t agreed in your care plan, the council could take the money back or end the direct payments.

If you’re struggling to manage your money

Ask your local council for advice or call the Money Advice Service on 0800 138 7777.

If you want someone else to receive the direct payment

You could speak to the council and agree for the money to be sent to someone who will spend it for you. For example:

• a carer

• a friend or family member

• someone else who speaks up for you (an advocate)

You may need to write down how they will spend the money and which decisions they can make for you. This is known as a decision-making agreement.

Employing your own carer or personal assistant

If you decide to hire a carer or personal assistant yourself, it’s important to know the responsibilities you’ll have as an employer.

Although support from the council should be available, you may need to arrange:

• background checks or references

• tax

• National Insurance

• pension contributions

Read more about employing someone to work in your home on GOV.UK.

Disability Rights UK also have more information on getting a personal assistant.

If you don’t want to become an employer

You could choose to hire care workers through an agency instead. This removes the legal obligations of being an employer, but could:

• cost you more money

• remove some of the benefits - such as having the same person provide your care

How to research a care agency

When choosing an agency, decide what sort of service you’re looking for and the tasks you need help with. It’s a good idea to contact more than one agency, as they may offer different types of services.

You can find out about local home care agencies by:

• speaking to your local council’s social services department

• contacting the UK Homecare Association

When choosing an agency, decide what sort of service you’re looking for and the tasks you need help with.

If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home.

There are also organisations that inspect care agencies to see how well they are doing. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care in England.

You might see a CQC inspection rating when you search online for care home agencies. Their 4 ratings are:

• Outstanding

• Good

• Requires improvement

• Inadequate

You could also search for care home agencies on the CQC website to see their full reports.

Telephone helplines

If you would like support to help you manage your personal budget or direct payments, speak to your council or call:

• the Disability Rights UK personal budgets helpline on 0330 995 0404

• the Age UK advice line on 0800 055 6112 (for older people)

NHS-funded nursing care

NHS-funded nursing care is when the NHS pays for the nursing care component of nursing home fees. The NHS pays a flat rate directly to the care home towards the cost of this nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care?

You may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if:

• you’re not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse

• you live in a nursing home

How will my needs be assessed?

You should be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

Most people don’t need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care. However, if you do need an assessment or you haven’t already had one, your integrated care board (ICB) can arrange an assessment for you. .

Outcome of the assessment

If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided

How to complain about personal budgets

It’s worth speaking to your council’s social services before making an official complaint to see if they can help.

You still have to the right to complain if you:

• have been told you’re not eligible to receive money towards your care and support

• don’t agree with the amount of money in your personal budget

You could either:

• speak to your social worker about being re-assessed

• call your local council social services and request a complaints form

Your council should also have a formal complaints procedure on its website.

If you’re not happy with the council’s response Contact your Local Government Ombudsman. They investigate all adult social care complaints.

• Age UK have a detailed fact sheet on personal budgets and direct payments in social care

• The Money Advice Service has a guide to direct payments

by registered nurses employed by the care home. Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If you’re not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision about your eligibility, ask your ICB to review the decision.

The cost of NHS-funded nursing care

NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. In May 2022, the rate was set at £209.19 a week (standard rate) and will be backdated to 1 April 2022.

If you moved into a care home before 1 October 2007, and you were on the previous high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. In May 2022, the higher rate was set at £287.78 a week and will be backdated to 1 April 2022. You’re entitled to continue on this rate unless:

• you no longer have nursing needs

• you no longer live in a care home that provides nursing

• your nursing needs have reduced and you’re no longer eligible for the high band, when you would change to the standard rate of £209.19 a week, or

• you become entitled to NHS continuing healthcare instead

Paying for your own care (self-funding)

You will not be entitled to help with the cost of care from your local council if:

• you have savings worth more than £23,250 – this is called the upper capital limit, or UCL, and will rise to £100,000 from October 2025

• you own your own property (this only applies if you’re moving into a care home)

You can ask your council for a financial assessment (means test) to check if you qualify for any help with costs.

You can choose to pay for care yourself if you don’t want a financial assessment.

How to arrange your care as a self-funder

You can:

• arrange and pay for care yourself without involving the council

• ask the council to arrange and pay for your care (the council will then bill you, but not all councils offer this service and they may charge a fee)

Even if you choose to pay for your care, your council can do an assessment to check what care you might need. This is called a needs assessment.

Find out what care you need

Even if you choose to pay for your care, your council can do an assessment to check what care you might need. This is called a needs assessment.

For example, it’ll tell you whether you need home help from a paid carer for 2 hours a day or 2 hours a week and precisely what they should help you with.

The needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

How much will care cost?

Social care can be expensive. Knowing how much you’ll have to pay will help you budget.

Paying for carers at home

A typical hourly rate for a carer to come to your home is around £20, but this will vary depending on where you live.

Having a carer who lives with you costs from around £800 a week. But it can cost as much as £1,600 a week if you need a lot of care.

Paying for a care home

There are 2 types of care home:

• residential homes have staff that help with everyday tasks such as getting dressed and supply all your meals

• nursing homes also offer 24-hour nursing care

A room in a care home costs:

• around £700 a week in a residential home

• over £850 a week in a nursing home

The price will vary according to where you live and the type of care you need.

For example, serious health problems like dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase the cost.

Benefits can help with care costs

You may be eligible for benefits, like Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which aren’t means-tested.

You can use them to pay towards the cost of your care.

Can I avoid selling my home?

You won’t have to sell your home to pay for help in your own home.

But you may have to sell your home to pay for a care home, unless your partner carries on living in it.

Sometimes selling your home to pay care home fees is the best option.

But there may be other ways to pay care home fees if you don’t want to sell your home straight away.

Contact your local council about 3 months before you think your savings will drop to below the limit and ask them to reassess your finances.

Releasing money from your home (equity release)

Equity release lets you take money that’s tied up in your home without selling it. It’s available if you’re over 55.

But you have to pay interest on the money you take out, which can be expensive.

MoneyHelper has more information on equity release.

Renting out your home

You can rent out your home and use the income to help pay your care home fees.

A deferred payment scheme

A deferred payment scheme can be useful if you have savings less than £23,250 (or £100,000 from October 2025) and all your money is tied up in your property.

The council pays for your care home and you repay it later when you choose to sell your home, or after your death.

Ask your council if you’re eligible for a deferred payment scheme.

You can get more information from:

• MoneyHelper: deferred payment schemes

• Independent Age: do I have to sell my home to pay for residential care?

Get expert financial help

You can get unbiased expert advice from a specialist care fees adviser.

They’ll help you compare all your options before you decide what’s right for you.

Find a specialist care fees adviser in your area with:

• PayingForCare, a free information service for older people

• Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) on 0333 2020 454

Telephone help

Get advice on paying for care from:

• Age UK on freephone 0800 055 6112

• Independent Age on freephone 0800 319 6789

• MoneyHelper on freephone 0800 011 3797

If your savings run out

If your savings fall below the upper capital limit of £23,250 (or £100,000 from October 2025), your council might be able to help with the cost of care.

Contact your local council about 3 months before you think your savings will drop to below the limit and ask them to reassess your finances.

Councils provide funding from the date you contact them. You won’t be reimbursed if your savings are below the limit before you contact them.

What you can get for free

You might be able to get some free help regardless of your income or if you’re paying for your care.

This can include:

• small bits of equipment or home adaptations that each cost less than £1,000

• NHS care, such as NHS continuing healthcare, NHSfunded nursing care and care after illness or hospital discharge (reablement)

How can you support Alzheimer’s Society?

1) Fundraising and events

From Memory Walk and Cupcake Day to challenging yourself in marathons and treks. There’s plenty of ways you can get involved to help raise money. Search ‘get involved’ on alzheimers.org.uk

2) Donate

Our dementia support services are made possible thanks to generous donations from the public. However, you don’t have to join an event or seek sponsorship to do this. Simply head to alzheimers.org.uk and donate what you can to unite against dementia.

3) Become a campaigner

At Alzheimer’s Society, we work to amplify the voices of people affected by dementia, to create a world where they get the support and care they deserve. We can’t do this alone. Whether you have dementia, you have a personal connection to dementia or you want to stand with those who do. Together we can make a difference, register to become a campaigner at alzheimers.org.uk

“Dementia can and does affect so many families, including mine.

“My father was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the summer of 2012. He passed away in September 2018.

“I wanted to do something to help raise awareness of the condition and tackle the stigma associated, so I reached out to Alzheimer’s Society to see if I could help. It gives me an enormous sense of pride being an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society and I feel like I’m making a difference.

“I have also personally enjoyed taking part in fundraising activities like Cupcake Day and Memory Walk, as there is a real sense of togetherness for a good cause.

“For anyone wanting to know how they can help, I’d say get involved. Whatever you can give, be that your time, voice or money, you’ll know you’ve made a difference to the lives of people affected by dementia.”

Meera Syal, actor and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador

Get in touch

If you are affected by dementia in and would like information and support, contact us:

T: 0333 150 3456

W: alzheimers.org.uk/dementiaconnect

E: dementia.connect@alzheimers.org.uk

The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care. We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one.

You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia. We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided.

You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care. You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61. Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

Social care Top tips

1 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers all care homes and home care agencies. You can find out which ones support specific groups of people, such as people with a learning disability or those living with dementia.

2 CQC’s Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe always uses ‘The Mum Test’: is a care home safe, caring, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led? In other words, is it good enough for my Mum (or anyone else I love and care for)?

3

Look for care homes and home care agencies where the staff involve people who use services and their families and carers, and treat individuals with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect

4

Whether you are being cared for in your own home or in a residential setting, the staff looking after you need to be skilled, kind and supportive. They should also be capable and confident in dealing with your particular needs. You should always feel that their support is helping you to live the life you want to.

5 A care home will be a home for you or your loved one. Residents should be treated as individuals with their likes and dislikes taken into account. Think about whether a home is close enough to family, friends, and community facilities

6

Look at how well-led and managed a home is. What does it have in place to ensure that it delivers high quality care? Does it promote meaningful activity and connect the home with the community?

7

If you or a loved one needs help with day-today care, you can contact your local council’s social services department. They will ‘make an assessment of your needs’ and depending on circumstances, may be able to help you access financial help. For more advice visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care.

8

If you would like to organise your care yourself, you can find a care worker or personal assistant through an agency Your local social services department should be able to provide details of approved agencies.

CQC’s ratings will identify services as: Outstanding H Good ● Requires improvement ●

Safeguarding adults who receive social care is everybody’s business. If you are concerned about the safety of a loved one receiving care, contact the service provider in the first instance. You can also contact social services at your local council. If you feel a crime has been committed, contact the police.

You can share your safeguarding concerns with us on our website or contact our National Customer Services on 03000 616161.

Nor does

The Old Rectory is a well-appointed homely residence ideally situated in one of Cheshire’s most Picturesque Villages. The original building has been carefully restored and continuous improvements ensures that the high standard of accommodation is maintained.

The Old Rectory is family owned and very much a part of the local community, it has recently been awarded a good CQC rating and has been recognised as one of the Top 20 Recommended Care Homes in the North West of England for the past five years.

The Old Rectory has 38 bedrooms, all of which have beautiful views of the village, Bridgewater canal and gardens and have ensuite or vanity facilities. Companion rooms are also available and each room is fully furnished to a high standard.

Care Services:

• 24 hour

Nursing/Health care staff • Local GP visits

• Weekly exercise programme by a Physiotherapist

• Weekly activity schedule

• Laundry service • Hairdressing and nail service • Assisted transport to appointments

• Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle available for family to use

• 9.8 rating on www.carehome.co.uk

Church Lane, Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 3EP

Tel: 01925 604611

Email: hello@orncare.co.uk

www.theoldrectorynursinghome.com